Delicious Geekery – October 2013

Back in August, we tried something a little new for Worldbuilders. Kevin Hearne and several of his anthology-mates sent us some signed copies of their carnival-steampunk collection, aptly named Carniepunk.

The books were signed by multiple authors, and rather than save them for our end-of-the-year Worldbuilders extraviganza, we decided to throw them up in our online store. We doubled the cover price because they were signed by some cool authors and because all the money goes to charity…

… and despite that, the books sold out in just a couple of hours.

Since people were obviously excited about the idea, we’ve decided to make a monthly habit of bringing you some new signed books in The Tinker’s Packs:

Since this is our first month, I tapped a few of my author friends. And, because they’re all awesome people, they jumped right in.

The first to agree was Brandon Sanderson. His book Steelheart came out a few weeks ago. It’s the first in a new series…

Look at it, looming over you like it can write faster than you or something…

Not to mention the fact that his signature is beautiful and flowing and doesn’t at all look like a 4 year old stole a pen from you…

I got a chance to read an ARC of this and loved it even before it went through final edits. My blurb on the back says, “Unfortunately for my ego, Steelheart is another win for Sanderson, proving that he’s not a brilliant writer of epic fantasy, he’s simply a brilliant writer. Period.”

These are signed first printings, and we’ve only got ten of them. So, fair warning, they’re bound to go quickly.

And remember, all the money we make in the Tinker’s Packs goes to Worldbuilders, helping Heifer International do awesome things all over the world.

Our second set of books comes from my long-time friend Nnedi Okorafor. She and I go way back to the Writers of the Future Volume 18 in 2002, where we were both bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, newbie writers.

Awww… look at me, all young and thin and tiny-bearded.

Both Nnedi and I have both come a long way since then. Her book Zahrah the Windseeker won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. And in 2011 Who Fears Death won the 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.

Her newest book Kabu Kabu just hit the shelves, and she’s been nice enough to send us some copies hot off the press.

In addition to signing, she’s gone the extra mile and decorated them too….

As you can see, each of these is signed, dated, and has it’s own individual doodle along the top and bottom of the book. She sent along 10 of these, and we’re putting them up in the store for you.

Fair warning: There’s only nine left because I just bought one. I haven’t read this one yet.

It’s the third book in the Gentleman Bastard series: The Republic of Thieves…

I’m a huge fan of the first two books in the series, and recently wrote a review of The Lies of Locke Lamora on Goodreads that was so gushy with love that his publisher contacted me to ask if they could use it as promo copy.

Scott went all out on copies he sent us, as you can see if you embiggen the below pictures.

Yeah, he’s a great guy. Because of that, I’ll try not to resent the fact that his handwriting looks like a stylish font.

By strange coincidence, I just started reading my copy tonight over dinner. And honestly, I wish I were still reading it instead of writing a blog post. It’s one of *those* books.

Just to let you know I just bought Steelheart.
This one is flying overseas to Barcelona guys! :-)
I am happy I could help Worldbuilders and get a signed Sanderson book I still do not own. Brandon, you will not read this, but c’mon, make it to Barcelona someday…Pat already beat you on this one!

BAH! Soooo broke, payday is in two days, Sanderson’s book will almost surely be sold out by then. Curses! Shaking of fist! Other Scooby-Doo-like exclamations followed by unnecessary exclamation points!

What are you waiting for? A call from Head and Shoulders? You’re not Troy Polamalu. Probably don’t even know who he is. Shave that shit, Pat! Mix it up. Cornrows and a soul patch. Or maybe a handlebar mustache. And throw on some leather. You could be an extra in the Cruisin’ remake. Or at least one of the dancers inside the Blue Parrot.

Just out of curiosity, have you ever turned down a blurb request from a high profile writer because you didn’t like the book?

Damn, I wish I’d seen this earlier. I would’ve loved to pick up a copy of Steelheart or Republic of Thieves. I have the audiobook of Steelheart, just finished it a week or two ago. Really great one by Brandon, as usual. Pat, have you read his short (by Sanderson standards) story, Legion? Another example of a fantastic non-fantasy book by this guy.

As for Lynch, I’m nearly finished with The Lies of Locke Lamora right now and really loving it. One of those signed copies of the third book would have been a real treasure. Ah well, grateful to those who beat me to it for contributing to a worthy cause. I’ll have to be quicker on the draw next time. Cheers, Pat!

As soon as I’ve finished revamping that fantasy manuscript I’ve been over-protectively nursing I MEAN EDITING for the past too-many years (and, ya know, after I find a proper publishing platform for it), definitely planning to donate some copies! If you want them, of course.

Also I sympathize on the signature. I’ve been told mine looks like I’m just practicing elementary school cursive. Though I’m still not entirely convinced that’s a problem…